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There is discussion here on MY about saying Kaddish for parents and also some discussion on Kaddish for a sister. One place on the Chabad website states that Kaddish should be said for 30 days for a sibling while another place also on the Chabad website (see comments below article) states that 11 months is customary.

For how long is Kaddish said for other relatives? What sources back different traditions?

I am specifically concerned about the case of a deceased sibling, but I am also curious about minhag for Kaddish for other close relatives such as children.

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  • My friend sadly said kaddish for a sibling for 30 days. The parents of the deceased girl, also for 30.
    – Charles Koppelman
    Commented Aug 1, 2012 at 19:52
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    @AdamRedwine, I'm sorry to learn that. But note that as this is a practical matter for you, you should consult an halachic expert, rather than rely on what you read on this site, to decide what to do.
    – msh210 ♦
    Commented Aug 1, 2012 at 20:01
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    I have never heard of any custom to say kaddish for longer than 30 days for anybody other than a parent. I am very sorry to hear about your loss.
    – Daniel
    Commented Aug 1, 2012 at 20:03
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    No source, but keep in mind that the person is only an Aveil - a mourner - for 30 days, except for parents.
    – Danny Schoemann
    Commented Aug 9, 2012 at 8:49
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    Remember that there is no obligation to say kaddish.
    – Joshua Pearl
    Commented Mar 4, 2018 at 20:08

1 Answer 1

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R Eliezer Melamed (Peninei Halakha on Prayer, ch. 4) writes the primary obligation of saying Kaddish rests upon the deceased's son (incl. a minor). In case there is no son, the following may also say Kaddish, in order of priority: a grandson, a son-in-law, a father, brother or nephew. When none of these relatives can say Kaddish for the deceased, part of the inheritance money should be used to hire a God-fearing person to recite Kaddish for him.

Regarding its duration, he writes

According to Ashkenazic custom, a mourner leads the services and says Kaddish for eleven months after a parent’s death. [...] The Sephardic custom is to stop for the first week of the twelfth month and then continue to lead the services and say Kaddish until the anniversary of the death.

dinonline writes

When there is a son saying Kaddish, the siblings generally do not say kaddish at all.

R David Brofsky (in his book on Hilchos Aveilus, p. 237) writes exactly the same.

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